After watching Jordan Love fight through knee and groin injuries last season, the Green Bay Packers are taking steps to keep their $55 million quarterback healthy for the foreseeable future.
The latest move came in the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft, where Green Bay selected Anthony Belton, an offensive tackle from North Carolina State.
In 2019, Belton appeared in 11 games at offensive tackle for Georgia Military Academy. He didn’t play in 2020 due to concerns about the COVID-19 pandemic. Belton later transferred to North Carolina State and saw limited action in 2021, appearing in only two games as a reserve.
By 2022, Belton had carved out a larger role, playing in 13 games with eight starts at left tackle. He took another leap in 2023, starting all 13 games at left tackle and earning third-team All-ACC honors. In 2024, he wrapped up his college career with 12 games played and 11 starts.
The Packers entered the draft with uncertainty looming along the offensive line because Zach Tom, Rasheed Walker, and Sean Rhyan were heading into the final year of their rookie deals. Still, the Anthony Belton selection may reveal even more about another Green Bay lineman not included in that group.
The Packers drafted Morgan to play tackle, but he played 185 snaps at guard before a shoulder injury ended his rookie season. At the 2025 NFL owners meeting, Matt LaFleur confirmed that Morgan will compete with Walker for the starting left tackle job, signaling Green Bay’s intent to move him back to his natural position.
The Belton pick puts things into an interesting perspective. At 6’6”, 336 lbs. – 25 lbs. heavier than Morgan, as listed on NFL.com – he has the natural frame teams look for in an NFL left tackle. While he offers the versatility to move inside if needed, it’s reasonable to assume the Packers would prefer to keep him on the edge.
Packers personnel executive Jon-Eric Sullivan believes Belton has the twitch to play on the edge and the ability to “match speed on the edge.”
“He can play on the edge,” Sullivan said minutes after Belton’s selection, “and play it very well.”
In a scenario where the Packers re-sign Zach Tom (which seems likely) and Walker tests the market, Belton could step in as Jordan Love’s blindside protector. The Packers may also have an opening at right guard if Rhyan departs in free agency; Morgan could slide into that role, while Belton solidifies the left side.
The development of the offensive line during training camp will be worth watching. Eric Sullivan has noted that Belton is capable of playing guard, and his size, coupled with his ability to drive defenders off the ball, gives the Packers confidence that he can transition inside if necessary.
On the other hand, Morgan has yet to take a snap at offensive tackle in his professional career, and one of them will likely begin the season as Green Bay’s swing tackle. Regardless, the Packers’ offensive line offers valuable versatility, which is a valuable asset as they work to build depth upfront.
Unless Jordan Morgan has a phenomenal training camp and earns the starting left tackle job, his future likely leans toward an interior role. While Morgan possesses the size to play on the edge, Belton’s sheer size, combined with his natural frame for the position, makes him the more logical choice to anchor the left tackle spot.
